Prince Charming, shaky knees, and peanut butter paint

Okay...

I know you all don't want to hear this.

But I have been 

SOOOO 

busy!

 

(My excuse for not getting back to reply to all of your lovely comments.)

 

Autumn always brings a truckload of outside chores that need to be accomplished

before the cold weather sets in.

And with the absolutely picture perfect Indian Summer weather we've been having for the past couple of weeks,

I've been able to accomplish a lot.

Needless to say....

I. am. exhausted.

Birdhouse clean-up duty was first on my list.

When I climbed up on the ladder with my trusty bend-nose pliers

to pull out the old nest from my favorite birdhouse along the woods,

this little guy popped out.

 

 

 

Prince Charming in disguise! 

He was clearly perturbed that I would have the gumption to wake him from his beauty sleep,

and slowly climbed out onto the side of the house using his sticky little toes to hang on.

He eventually made like a tightrope walker and traveled up a nearby branch 

to watch me finish my job.  

What a show-off....

Then it was on to painting the railing on the "widow's walk" above our front porch.

NOT my idea of a good time,

but it had to be done.

I had procrastinated long enough.

 

Like four years.

 

 

See how high up that baby is...?

 

 

 

 

My knees shake when I climb a 6' ladder.

Nine long, backbreaking hours later, I climbed back through the bedroom window

(the one on the left - which is the only way access to the walk).

 

The railing looked so much better.

Cleaner.

Brighter.

Almost like new!

 

(However, don't bother asking me to paint that railing ever again.

A new PVC railing will be installed next time.)

 

 

Next on the agenda was painting the floor of that widow's walk.

(Another project I had been procrastinating on.

Like...ummmm... four years....)

The seamed metal roof was showing signs of rust.

So, Hubby gave me some special metal/tar paint he had stored in the barn.

 

Back out through the bedroom window I went.

I tell you....it was like painting with peanut butter.

Thick (really thick) and gooey.

Difficult to spread.

A great workout for my arms, though.

Reaching for the 18" of roof that extended out past the railing was a real trick,

but after dragging myself back inside 4 hours later ~

another project was completed!

 

After waterproofing the back deck with my neighbor's help today,

Chore #4 - completed!

 

Oh, and see that huge, old maple tree on the left side of the porch?

That's coming down (finally!) the first part of November.

(i.e. - less leaves to blow...)

I think I need a vacation....

 

 

Oh, and I never showed you what I purchased at the last couple of antique markets I went to!

How about some tri-fold shabby shutters in need of a good cleaning and painting (after somebody obviously had a hayday with a paintball gun....)?

 

How about a beautifully restored vintage rotary telephone that works!

 

 

 

I've been yearning for one of these for many years.

It's the type that I grew up with as a child.

I adore dialing it and the sound it makes as the dial goes around.  :)

(Yeah...I'm easily entertained.)

 

Oh, and you should have seen Hubby the first time that sweet thing rang one morning.

 

I had to pry him off the ceiling fan.

Good night, all!

I'm off to bed to rest these weary bones...

{ Tired Hugs }

 

 

 

Linking this week with the parties on the lower right of my sidebar!

See you there!